The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured their spot in the much-anticipated World Series (WS). On the 20th, in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the New York Mets at home, the Dodgers claimed a dominant 10-5 victory, winning the series 4-2, largely thanks to the stellar performance of Korean-American Tommy Edman (Korean name Hyun-soo). Edman’s heroics in Game 6 earned him the NLCS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

With this win, the Dodgers clinched the National League title for the first time in four years since 2020. They will face off against the New York Yankees, champions of the American League, in a highly anticipated 'LA-New York' World Series showdown. The Dodgers, who last won the World Series in 2020 during the shortened pandemic season, will now aim for their 8th overall title. Their opponents, the Yankees, have 27 World Series championships under their belt. The Yankees advanced to the World Series by defeating the Kansas City Royals in the Division Series and the Cleveland Guardians in the Championship Series after finishing the regular season with the top winning percentage in the American League (0.580, 94 wins and 68 losses).

The Yankees and Dodgers have faced off in the World Series 11 times throughout the 20th century. In these 11 meetings, the Yankees have won 8 times, while the Dodgers have claimed 3 titles. This year's World Series marks the first time the two teams will face each other in the 21st century. It’s also their first World Series clash in 43 years since 1981.

Fans are particularly excited for the showdown between MLB superstars Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) and Aaron Judge (Yankees), both of whom are making their World Series debuts.

The hero of Game 6 in the NLCS was Tommy Edman, a half-Korean player who represented the South Korean national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Edman, whose mother is Korean, started as the cleanup hitter and shortstop, delivering an outstanding performance with 2 hits, including a 2-run home run, and 4 RBIs in 5 at-bats.

In the NLCS, Edman played in all six games, posting an impressive .407 batting average with 11 hits in 27 at-bats, 1 home run, and 11 RBIs, along with an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.023, earning him the MVP title for the series. The Dodgers fell behind in the top of the first inning, as the Mets scored first. With 2 outs and a runner on third, Mets slugger Pete Alonso hit a weak ground ball to Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor, whose throw to first base sailed past first baseman Max Muncy, allowing Francisco Lindor to score and Alonso to advance to second base. The play was officially recorded as an infield single for Alonso followed by a throwing error by the second baseman.

The Dodgers quickly turned the game around. In the bottom of the first, Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez both singled, putting runners on first and third with one out. Tommy Edman then doubled off Mets starter Sean Manaea, driving in two runs and giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

The Dodgers hit two home runs in the third inning. With no outs and a runner on first, Edman launched a 147 km/h (91 mph) fastball from Manaea over the left-center field fence for a two-run homer. Later in the inning, Will Smith hit a two-out solo home run off reliever Phil Maton, extending the Dodgers' lead.

The Mets attempted a comeback in the fourth inning, as Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer to center field, cutting the Dodgers' lead to 6-3. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dodgers responded when Shohei Ohtani’s bloop single fell in front of the center fielder, driving in another run and extending the Dodgers' lead to 7-3. The Mets added one more run in the top of the seventh inning with Francisco Alvarez’s sacrifice fly, making it 7-4.

The Dodgers sealed the victory in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mookie Betts hit an RBI double, followed by a sacrifice fly from Teoscar Hernandez and an RBI single from Enrique Hernandez, giving the Dodgers a commanding 10-4 lead. Closer Blake Treinen took the mound in the eighth and ninth innings, allowing only one run as he secured the Dodgers' trip to the World Series.

The first game of the World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees will take place on Friday, October 26, at 4 p.m. at Dodger Stadium.